Apparatus for developing, toning, and fixing photographs.



No. 721,839. PATENTED MAR; 3, 1903.

A. SCHWARZ.

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING, TONING, AND FIXING PHOTOGRAPHS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1901 N0 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET l.

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APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING, TUNING, AND FIXING PHOTOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED Mn 9. mp1.

1T0 MODEL.

PATBNTED' MAB. 3, 1903.

. SGHWARZ. APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING, TUNING, AND FIXING PHOTOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1901.

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M an UQ/I ItOZ I akbozneq JHFRORRIS PETERS co. PHOTO-LITNQ. WASHINGTON. 0. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING, TONING, AND FIXING PHOTOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,839, dated March 3, 1903.

Original application filed May 10, 1897. Serial No. 635,864. Divided and this application filed May 9, 1901. Serial No. 59,525. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ARTHUR SOHWARZ, a subject of the German Emperor, and a resident of Berlin, Schoneberg, Germany, have,

invented how and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Developing, Toning, and Fixing Photographs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

In the manufacture of photographs the sensitized paper is fed through the several baths for developing,toning,and fixing the pictures. With this operation as hitherto carried out only one and the same toning of the photographs is obtained, because the strip of paper is continually fed at a uniform speed through the several baths.

I have devised a new apparatus whereby the treatment of the strip of sensitized and exposed paper is also carried out in a continuous manner, but which is so constructed that it enables me to obtain different shades in the toning of the photographs. I have attained this purpose by devising arrangements enabling me to shorten or extend at will the period during which the photographs are treated in the baths, either by increasing or decreasing the speed of feeding of the paper through the baths or by immersing the loops of paper more or less deep into the baths, whereby the speed of the travel of the paper remains unchanged.

I have illustrated my new apparatus in the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, same letters of reference being used for the same parts in the several views, and wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the elevated feeding-receptacles omitted. Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the elevated feed-receptacles and one of' r. The feeding-rolls W W W 850., are rotated at uniform speed by the shaft L by means of worm-gears N. At its end the shaft L carries a disk at, in frictional contact with a friction-roller b, rigidly mounted upon the shaft B, so that the shaft L is rotated by the shaft B. This shaft B is adapted to be moved in an axial direction by means of the handwheel 0, Fig. 2, so as to shift the point of contact of the friction-roller b and the disk at. It is obvious that the farther the roller 1) is removed from the center of disk at the slower the rotation of the shaft L will be, and vice versa. These changes in speed may of course be effected gradually by means of the mechanism described, and by these means I am enabled perfectly to regulate the speed of the travel ofthe paper through the baths.

The shaft B is rotated by a belt d, laid over the stepped pulleys D D D as shown in Fig. 2, and this arrangement affords another means roughly to regulate the time of treatment of the paper; but as each rate of speed as obtained by the shifting of the belt 01 can be further minutely changed by means of the shifting of the point of contact between roller 1) and disk 0, the mechanism described affords the means exactly to regulate the speed of the travel of the paper.

The shade of toning is varied by changing the level of the solution in the bath, it being obvious that by such change the travel of the paper through the solution may be extended or shortened. This arrangement,which also presents the advantage that the moist paper, which is liable to tear, is not shifted in its position, is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

The bath I has at its four corners vertical perforated pipes g, connected by pipes 9. One of these pipes g is connected by a suitable pipe G with an elevated receptacle H, containing the solution for the bath. By opening the cock it, provided in the feed-pipe G, the bath I can be filled so far that it requires a certain predetermined time for the paper to travel through said bath so as to procure the required toning. Now, if for another shade of toning the duration of the travel is to be shortened the attendant turns the spindle K downward, and so pushes down the levers k, that are connected by a rod Z, thereby raising the valves L, resting on the other end of the levers 7r, so that the solution can flow out of the bath I. As soon as the solution has reached the desired level the attendant turns the spindle K upward, so that the valves L will automatically close under the impulse of their own weight and the pressure of the liquid.

The liquid drawn from the bath 1 flows through a gutter m to a suitable receptacle, (not shown,) from which it is again conveyed by any suitable means to the elevated tank H.

One of the vertical perforated pipes g is eX- tended through the bottom of the receptacle I and is connected by means of a hose with the feeding-tank H. This tank H is not stationary, but is suspended from a rope N running over rollers n in such Way that it can be moved up and down. It is obvious that according to the higher or lower position of the tank H in regard to the bath I the level of the solution in the latter will be higher or lower.

Having now described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixing a long band of photographic paper, the combination with a bath, of an elevated feeding-receptacle for the same, means for feeding a band of paper through the bath, and means for regulating the afilux and the efflux of the solution to and from the bath, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for developing, toning and fixing a long band of photographic paper, the combination with a bath, of means for feeding a band of paper through the same, and a movable feeding-tank adapted to regulate the depth of liquid in the bath by the relative position of the feeding-tank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR SCI-IWARZ.

Witnesses:

WoLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER. 

